Call for Cities for WCUS 2021-2022

The application process to be a host city for WordCamp US 2021 and 2022 is now open!

If your community is interested in continuing the tradition — set by San Francisco, Philadelphia, Nashville, and St. Louis — of hosting a memorable, engaging WordCamp US, read on to discover how to make that happen.

Hosting a WordCamp US

With a draw of over 1,500 attendees each year and a main purpose of connecting and inspiring the WordPress community, hosting WordCamp US is a big responsibility and time commitment. To best use resources, we expect that the host city will be prepared to host in both 2021 and 2022. 

While it’s not a requirement that all local organizers participate on the WCUS organizing team, we’ll need a few local organizers from the host city to help orient the team to the new location. Like all WordCamps, WCUS is organized by volunteers, and the local WCUS team will be augmented by amazing WordPress community organizers from all over North America. By combining knowledge of the local community and regional WordCamp experience, we work together to make this flagship event happen.

WordCamp US 2021 and 2022 dates

The following dates are available for WordCamp US 2021-2022:

2021

• Thursday, August 12 – Sunday, August 15, 2021
• Thursday, September 30 – Sunday, October 3, 2021
• Thursday, October 21 – Sunday, October 24, 2021

2022

• Thursday, September 1 – Sunday, September 4, 2022
• Thursday, September 8 – Sunday, September 11, 2022
• Thursday, September 15 – Sunday September 18, 2022

Note: Like many of you, we are closely monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic. It is hard to know what the future holds for in person events, so at this time, WCUS is moving forward with an in person event, and will plan for in-person events in 2021 and 2022. If this changes, we will communicate that information as quickly as possible. For the latest updates for WCUS 2020 and COVID-19 impacts, please visit our website.

Who can apply?

Any WordPress community within the United States that has held at least two WordCamps in the last three years (2018-2020) is eligible to apply. For more specifics on other qualifications please, refer to the Additional Application Information section below.

How to apply and important application dates

If you’d like to apply, please fill out this survey. 

Important Dates

• Call for Cities opens: Monday, March 23, 2020
• Application for host city deadline: Friday, May 8, 2020
• First round of notification for all applicants: Friday, May 22, 2020
• Meetings with City Selection Committee: Weeks of May 25 and June 1, 2020
• Additional information due: Tuesday, June 30, 2020
• RFP bids due from venues: Friday, July 17th, 2020
• Decision of host city made: Friday, July 31, 2020

For more information on our process, please see the Additional Application Information below.

Additional Application Information

Host City Criteria

The main goals for WordCamp US are to connect WordPress enthusiasts with each other, inspire people to do more with WordPress, and to encourage people to contribute back to the WordPress open source project. The host city must be prepared to support these main goals for two consecutive years. 

As we review applications, we will be looking for the following requirements:

City

• Has international appeal and draw while being cost effective for attendees.
• Will provide a safe, welcoming experience for attendees.
• Is served by a major airport.

Main Venue 

• Has enough space for 2,000 attendees.
• Has enough space for WCUS programming, including: 
  • a Contributor Day room
  • Sponsor Hall
  • food hall
  • room for speaker and workshop tracks
  • speaker green room
  • organizer rooms
  • space for quiet area
  • storage
  • volunteer room
  • space for child care
  • media room
  • sponsor meeting rooms
  • Nursing parent room/pod
• Is close to hotels with varying price points
• Proximity to additional venue space for after party and industry events
• Easily accessible by public transit

Local Community

• Has organized one or more successful WordCamps, with at least one in 2018 and/or 2019
• A strong and active meetup group with multiple organizers
  • Note: While not all local organizers must be on the WCUS organizing team, we hope that there will be a local group that will continue supporting the meetup.

Cost

• The cost associated with hosting WCUS in the selected venue and all potential vendors (A/V, wifi, rentals, etc.)
• The range of financial impact to attendees

Selection Process

Based on past experience and a desire to make this a smoother process for applicants, the City Selection Committee has decided on the following process.

1. All applications will be reviewed and scored based on the following:
   • Appeal of City: ability to draw attendees, location, proximity to major airport
   • Community Factors: diversity, number of WordCamps and meetups, longevity and level of activity, and application enthusiasm
2. After all cities have been scored, the top applicants will be invited to have a conversation with the Selection Committee. 
   • In that meeting, we will discuss their city and the process for organizing WCUS. 
   • Applicants will be tasked with gathering some additional information for their application at this time, including an estimated budget range for WordCamp attendees. 
   • They will also have some time to reflect on the WCUS organizing process and reaffirm whether they would still like to move forward.
3. While the applicants are gathering this additional information, a production company will solicit bids from prospective venues. 
   • We believe that hiring a professional service to help us with this step will result in the most cost effective budget proposal, and reduce the burden on local applicants.
4. With bids and additional information from applicants, the Selection Committee will do another round of scoring, based on the following: 
   • Cost: cost of venue and vendors, average cost of a stay during WCUS
   • Suitability of Venue: space, potential layout, ease of access, etc. 
   • Appeal of City: ability to draw attendees, location, proximity to major airport, fun factor in WordFest options
   • Community Factors: diversity, number of WordCamps and meetups, longevity of community, history, application enthusiasm
5. Following this second round of scoring, we will decide on the host city for 2021/2022 and share results of the scoring. The host city will be announced publicly during State of the Word in 2020.